Active Control of Flexible Structures

Active Control of Flexible StructuresAdaptive Control of Flexible Structures deals with vibration control for large-scale flexible structures which are, or may be, subject to a broadband primary vibration field. The authors present a complete rationale for solving problems of vibration, from experimental structural characterization to controller implementation. In reaching this objective they address the following steps:

• experimental identification of the dynamic model of the structure;

• optimal placement of sensors and actuators;

• formulation of control constraints in terms of controller frequency response shape, based on the specification and characteristics of sensors and actuators;

• controller design and simulation; and

• controller implementation and rapid prototyping.

The experimental identification procedure is based on a gray-box approach tailored to the estimation of modal parameters of large-scale flexible structures. The actuator/sensor placement algorithm maximizes a modal controllability index so as to improve the effectiveness of the control action. Taking into account the physical limitations of sensors and actuators, the controller is chosen as a stable, band-pass MIMO system resulting from the closed-form solution of a robust control problem. The closed-form solution is particularly attractive for large-scale control systems, overcoming possible numerical problems caused by ill-conditioned solutions. Experimental results on an aeronautical stiffened skin panel are presented using rapid-prototyping hardware.

Adaptive Control of Flexible Structures will be of interest to academics and practising engineers working on vibration-reduction problems in aerospace and other transportation environments; to civil engineers concerned with seismic vibration in buildings; and to graduate students taking courses in mechanical, aeronautical and control engineering, particularly when involved with smart structures and actuators.

Shows the reader how to deal with not only vibration induced by distinct resonance peaks but also with those caused by broad-band disturbanceShows the reader how to test results quickly using rapid prototyping technologyRelies on well-know robust optimal control strategies